Man conquers Uganda’s highest mountain and claims it for the gays

A man has conquered Uganda’s highest mountain and claimed it for LGBTI rights.

Neal Gottlieb, a US ice cream company owner and activist, climbed to the summit of Margherita Peak in order to protest Uganda’s new anti-gay laws.

He reached the top of the 16,763 feet mountain and mounted a gay rainbow pride flag after a six day climb on 16 April.

‘Your country’s highest point is no longer its soil, its snow or a summit marker, but rather a gay pride flag waving brilliantly, shining down from above as a sign of protest and hope behalf of the many thousands of Ugandans that you seek to repress and the many more that understand the hideous nature of your repressive legislation,’ Gottlieb said in a letter to Uganda president Yoweri Museveni.

‘Despite this, you recently signed legislation into law that allows those born homosexual to be imprisoned for life.

‘This is a disgusting, despicable act that threatens to ruin countless lives. If you had a son, daughter, niece or nephew that was homosexual, would you want her or him to be imprisoned for life?

‘What if you have friends that are closeted homosexuals? Should they be locked up for the rest of their lives? If you were born gay, would you deserve to be imprisoned?’

Gottlieb climbed the mountain with the help of Ugandan guides, who apparently had no idea what the flag stands for and they didn’t ask.

Concluding his letter, he said: ‘If you don’t like said flag on your highest peak, I urge you to climb up and take it down.

‘However, you are an old man and surely the 6-day climb through the steep muddy bogs and up the mountain’s glaciers is well beyond your physical ability.

‘Your days are more limited than most. Do you want your remaining days to be yet another blight on the history of your nation or will you find the strength to reverse your actions and allow all Ugandans to be free?’